Abstract
Objective: To describe perceptions of maternal discrimination and to begin to understand patterns around timing of starting families, infertility, and post-partum depression among veterinary mothers.Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions posted to a social media platform “Moms with a DVM.”Sample: 1,082 veterinary mothers in the United States.Procedures: An online questionnaire was administered regarding perceived discrimination, inequities in the work-place due to pregnant or maternal status, desired accommodations, timing of pregnancy(ies), fertility issues, and postpartum experiences.Results: At least one form of perceived discrimination was reported by 819 (75.7%) respondents (M = 2.6, SD = 2.1, range 0–10). Specifically, 789 (72.9%) reported maternal discrimination. Over half of the sample (n = 632, 58.4%) reported at least one instance of perceived inequity in the workplace due to status as a mother (M = 1.23, SD = 1.4, range 0–5). A majority (906, 83.7%) reported that their career had “definitely” or “maybe” affected the timing of their children. One hundred eighty-nine respondents (17.5%) experienced at least one miscarriage, and 192 (17.6%) used fertility treatment due to difficulty conceiving. Postpartum depression was diagnosed in 181 respondents (16.7%), and 353 (32.6%) reported symptoms consistent with postpartum depression but did not seek medical care. Of 953 participants who needed accommodations for breastfeeding and/or pumping while at work, 130 (13.6%) reported excellent accommodations, 454 (47.6%) adequate, 258 (27.1%) inadequate, and 111 (11.6%) had no accommodations provided.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Participants reported experiences of perceived maternal discrimination, as well as inequities and lack of support services due to status as a mother. These results highlight the need for attention and changes to ensure veterinarians have supportive and sustainable career options.
Highlights
In the last 60 years, veterinary medicine has shifted from a maledominated to a mostly female-dominated profession [1]
Female veterinarians are still paid less than their male counterparts, have a higher debt to income ratio [2] and experience gender discrimination [3]
A recent survey of physician mothers found that 66.3% perceive gender discrimination and 35.8% perceive discrimination based on their pregnant or maternal status at work [6]
Summary
In the last 60 years, veterinary medicine has shifted from a maledominated (nearly 90%) to a mostly female-dominated (about 80%) profession [1]. Despite these demographic changes, female veterinarians are still paid less than their male counterparts, have a higher debt to income ratio [2] and experience gender discrimination [3]. A majority (51%) of working women in the United States say that having children has “made it harder for them to advance” in their career compared to 16% of men [4]. A recent survey of physician mothers found that 66.3% perceive gender discrimination and 35.8% perceive discrimination based on their pregnant or maternal status at work [6]
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